The All-New Super F-Series Ford For 2011

First Drive
Rarely can a writer use "all-new" to describe a vehicle, but this new Super Duty pickup qualifies, even with some carryover parts and pieces. Why? Because what was important to retain was kept, and what needed to be upgraded has been. How does an all-new, Ford-built Power Stroke 6.7L diesel engine packing 735 lb-ft of torque and 390 hp sound? Gone is the old Navistar International engine and its associated problems. Also, a new 6R140 six-speed transmission and a host of other improvements make this truck the one you want when hauling that 24,400-pound maximum load up or down a grade.

The design team left well enough alone and didn't screw up the classic Ford Super Duty look, refraining from the design-driven want of making door glass smaller and doorsills shoulder-level. The Super Duty is a work truck first, and since form should follow function this iteration should be a big hit on the market.

With towing in mind, the engine and transmission work together to provide acceleration and braking control, with start assist (which also works on the trailer brakes through the integrated brake controller). For compression braking on downgrades, the 6R140 six-speed transmission couples with the advanced twin-turbine turbo/brake technology to keep you at a steady, safe, and controlled speed on winding roads.

The heart of the new Super duty is the world-class, all-new 6.7L diesel engine. An advanced design (the intake is outboard and the exhaust is inboard) is said to make for a quieter engine that runs cooler and has better throttle response. After our brief experience driving it, we have to agree.

Of course the interiors and amenities have been upgraded as well, with a smart screen to confuse even the best of us while providing all sorts of info if you can decipher it. We really liked the gearshift PRNDL design on the dash, which gave us modes for manual shift, semi-auto, or full-on brain dead. This truck is customizable and selectable for almost any environment, and while a manual tranny is not an option, a floor-mounted shifter for the transfer case is available on some trim levels. Regardless of how you build it, the new Super Duty is destined to go far, and we hope to pit it in a three-way tow test soon.